Wireless upgrade projects are underway around
the world, promising to deliver more robust networks that act as the backbone for a data-rich
future. With the rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT), 25 billion “things”—
including buildings, cars, machines and appliances—are
projected to be connected to the internet by 2020.
To communicate with their owners and each other,
they will need access to reliable new fifth-generation
(5G) networks boasting network data speeds 10 to
100 times faster than the fastest existing networks.

How’s this for 5G network project benefits? 5G
infrastructure will make it possible to download
feature films to smartphones in less than 5 seconds,
enable self-driving cars to swerve around obstacles
automatically and allow doctors to perform complex surgery remotely using robots.

This hyperconnected future remains well beyondthe horizon in most parts of the world, however.Projects to expand 3G and 4G technologies are stillneeded in many parts of Africa, Asia Pacific andLatin America. These projects not only help peoplecatch up to global digital norms, they also leavebreadcrumbs for teams that someday will completethe 5G future.

“Mobile upgrade projects are critical for a 5G
future,” says Kye Prigg, PMP, head of mobile networks, Vodafone UK, Newbury, England. “When it
comes to the possibilities with 5G, we are talking
about massive data speeds and very low latency.
This will put tougher requirements on how the
sites are built, the locations of the sites and the